New teachers at Eden High

EDEN Marine High School has welcomed four new teachers for the start of the school year.

Tom Keath, David Barros, Michelle Bond and Angie Butler have all experienced the daunting first day back to school along with students but have all voiced they are excited to get stuck in to work for the year ahead.

Social science teacher Tom Keath has just moved to Eden from Maitland after finishing his teaching degree at University.

The 22-year-old said the graduate position is very exciting for him.

“I would like to make a fair and safe classroom environment for the students, to increase their positive attitude towards learning,” he said.

When Mr Keath is not knuckling down at school, he is a keen sportsman in both cricket and soccer.

“I’ve only been here for a week but it’s a really great area, everyone is friendly and the school is fantastic.”

With a few more years under his belt, David Barros is the school’s newest HSIE teacher, having taught geography, history and business studies at Moss Vale High for 13 years, the 40-year-old said he had been looking for a sea change for four years.

“This is a transfer move for me,” Mr Barros said.

“I have always been a coastal person and I had been looking for a transfer, when this finally came through last year.

“I love living in Eden. I had been here in social situations and holidays before but now I’m living right on the salt water and it’s fantastic.

“The school so far has been magnificent and the staff and students are very friendly.”

Mr Barros said he hopes to engage Eden Marine High School students in their subject material and help them to enjoy school.

“I want to help them learn what they will need for their futures and make them all in to good citizens,” he said.

“Student relations are my forte and I’d like to be a good adult role model for all the students.”

Michelle Bond is no stranger to Eden Marine High School, having been a casual teacher in history, geography and English at the school for 10 years she has now filled the full-time position as year advisor.

Mrs Bond moved to Nethercote for her husband’s work and said she had never been to Eden before.

When she first arrived it was a horribly windy day and she thought it was the end of life as she knew it. However, the weather fined up quickly and the school and community have grown close to her heart in the last decade.

“I’ve been in main stream teaching for 25 years,” she said.

“I was originally based in Sydney, where I then moved to Wollongong and then to Nethercote.

“I thought it was the end of the earth when I first arrived but I absolutely adore it now.”

The 48-year-old Mrs Bond said her new position at the school has been an easy transition and she will help all students, particularly in years 10 to 12, gain what they most desire in life.

“I will be organising work experience, resumes and helping students pick university courses and what subjects they will need to do those courses, as well as TAFE courses, apprenticeships and work placements,” Mrs Bond said.

“I hope to create the best possible link between the school and the community.”

Angie Butler has lived in the local area on and off for the past eight years and trained as a teacher in Bega.

After finishing her training she moved to Western NSW to work as a teacher and later moved back to Merimbula to work casually at Eden High School.

Her first week on the job at Eden Marine High School has been “fantastic” for the 34-year-old history and English teacher.

“I absolutely love it here,” she said.

“This is where I trained as a teacher so I’m familiar with it.

“I hope to impart a love of learning on the students, particularly in English and history.

“I’m also passionate about Aboriginal education, so I would like to increase those outcomes within the school.”